Exceptional drought is now present in several U.S. states, especially California. Ohio and the rest of the eastern U.S. are drought-free. / NOAA

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News Journal

Today is the average date for the last spring frost in Bucyrus. It was yesterday in Ashland, and is tomorrow in Plymouth.

Meanwhile, the average date of the last spring frost falls on Wednesday in Fredericktown and Friday in Mansfield. The temperature dropped to 33 degrees Monday morning at my location north of Fredericktown, but thatís probably as low as it will get this week. Might we make it through this May without any late, killing frosts and freezes?

As area growers know, itís far too soon to know that for sure. Last year I recorded a frost on May 25. But last May was full of late-season frosts and freezes, and so far this spring isnít shaping up that way around here.

A minor trough passed over north central Ohio early Monday, with some very light, brief showers reaching the ground here and there. The associated clouds are expected to linger through much of the day, and presently satellite imagery isnít showing any real breaks in the clouds across the state. We can expect cool temperatures, topping out in the mid-50s.

Tuesday will be better, or at least more spring-like, with mostly sunny skies and a seasonal forecast high temperature in the mid-60s. After that, a warm front presently stuck to our south will finally move through here, bringing with it summertime conditions.

After a slight chance of rain Tuesday night and Wednesday, we could reach 80 degrees by Thursday, something our cool, wet soil will certainly appreciate. The arrival of the warmth could open the door for the nationís second round of deadly severe weather, but any tornadoes should be relegated to the Plains states.

Although our forecast for overnight Monday into Tuesday is for mostly cloudy skies, thatís by no means a sure thing, so tonightís peak of the annual eta Aquarid meteor shower is something to watch. The meteors, courtesy of a stream of debris from Halleyís Comet, are expected to peak before sunrise with up to 30 meteors per hour.

Below are the weather observations for April 2014 at my weather station 4 miles NNW of Fredericktown, Ohio: